Adult Robin go brrrr

Observations:

Ringing:

Today we had two guests who joined ringing for part of the morning, and obs for another part. Unfortunately, we only caught a few birds to show them (12 throughout the whole morning), but few birds also meant that I had time to show and explain some of the characteristics we use to age the birds. In this respect, the morning started out rather spectacularly, with the season's second adult Robin (Erithica rubecula) being the very first bird ringed. 

Wing of an adult (2k+) Robin. Note that, although a few of the greater coverts have some light spots, those spots are very small and dark-buffish compared to the typical spots on juvenile-type feathers, and that there is no shift in the base colours of the feathers, meaning that there is no moult contrast. This, combined with very rounded tail feathers, reveals it to be an adult individual. Foto: Alba M. Holmberg

The very last bird of the day was another welcome surprise: The fourth Blue Tit (Cyanistes caeruleus) of the season. As per usual Blue Tit fashion, it was an angry little ball of feathers with a tiny but strong beak that it used to tirelessly peck at me whenever it got the chance. Because of this, getting a good picture was a bit of a challenge, but we managed in between its hacking-barages on my fingers.

A young (1k) Blue Tit. The combination of a broad dark-blue neckband and very striking blue colours (seen better in person) indicates it to be a male. Foto: Alba M. Holmberg

Today's captures:

At the station: Strummer, Alba